Patrols increased to catch voyeur spying on female UBC students

Totem Park Residence at the University of British Columbia is seen in a CTV file image.

Police patrols are being stepped up at the University of B.C. after five reports of a voyeur spying on female students.

RCMP say the suspect or suspects are looking into dorm rooms, as well as entering the shower and washroom areas.

In the latest incident, a university official told The Canadian Press a man climbed into bed with one of his victims.

Ali Mojdehi, the acting director of UBC’s campus security, said the incidents happened over the past few days in the Place Vanier and Totem Park residences.

The reports include descriptions of an intruder “looking through unlocked residence room doors at partially clothed female students.”

“UBC has been communicating directly with summer guests of the conference centre and hostel, and wanted to inform the broader UBC community of the steps we are taking to ensure our community’s safety,” Mojdehi said in a bulletin posted to the university’s website Tuesday.

The RCMP has increased its presence around the residences, according to the university, and both campus security and Student Housing and Hospitality Services have increased patrols inside and outside the buildings.

UBC has also hired a third-party security company to bolster its existing resources.

All the incidents happened in the early morning, and RCMP say it’s been difficult to obtain a suspect description because the voyeur flees as soon as he is seen.

Mounties say they don’t believe there is any connection to previous sexual assaults on campus.